Sanford Museum
Sanford Museum
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  • More
    • Home
    • Education
    • Exhibits & Collections
    • Planetarium
    • SMA
    • Archaeology
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Education
  • Exhibits & Collections
  • Planetarium
  • SMA
  • Archaeology
  • Contact Us

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Exhibits and Collections

    UPPER LEVEL EXHIBITS

    West Gallery The West gallery constantly changes. It is in this area that we build five major exhibits a year. 

    Now Showing: Iowa - Fields of Innovation

    East Gallery  These Displays  tell the story of Cherokee's development. The lives of the early settlers are portrayed through historical artifacts.   

    Sanford Room Furnished in mid-nineteenth century style, the Sanford Room provides a beautiful setting commemorating the museum founders

    Lower Level Exhibits

    Our Lower Level  features a variety of topics, including a display featuring Iowa's Astronaut, Peggy

    Our Lower Level  features a variety of topics, including a display featuring Iowa's Astronaut, Peggy Whitson. There is also a hands-on area dedicated 

    Our Ice Age area is dedicated to showing visitors the wonders of the Ice Age. Many fossilized remains are  from the animals that populated this region

    Time and Traditions: The Archaeology of Northwest Iowa tells the story of the native people of the area

    Art EXHIBITS

      ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES

      East Gallery Art Wall

      Art wall 

      Local artists display their skills on the Art Wall in the East Gallery. 

      Artists featured in 2025:

      January - February: Carlos Maldonaldo

      March - April: Abby Novak

      May:: Deanna Skoken

      June: Cherokee County Soils Posters

      July: Lori Ristau

      August : April Mason

      September :Jonathon Matteson

      October: Cherokee County 4-H Projects 

      November - December: Tibi Chelsea

      For information about how to be featured on our Art Wall, please email us at artdirector@sanfordmuseum.org

      Indigenous Artist Opportunities

      We have a small gallery in our Time and Traditions Exhibit, solely dedicated to Contemporary Indigenous artists. Contact artdirector@sanfordmuseum.org for more information on exhibiting your work in one or both galleries.

      COLLECTIONS

      Historic Collections: Our historic collections are focused on the lives and culture of people in Northwestern Iowa. They include artifacts such as clothing, furniture, glassware, children’s toys, farm equipment, and much more.For more information on archival collections of Northwestern Iowa, contact OSA or Cherokee Public Library  

      Prehistoric Collections: Our archaeological collections are focused on the lives of people who settled in Northwestern Iowa prior to European contact. Our collections represent cultures from the Paleo-Indian Period, through the Archaic and Woodland, and up to the Late Prehistoric Mill Creek, Oneota, Glenwood, and Great Oasis.Sites where many of our collections from:• Brewster Site• Crocker Site• Phipps Site• Sewer Site• Simonsen Site  

      Research at the Museum: The Sanford Museum strives to make their archaeological collections accessible to researchers. 

      Contact us at sanfordmuseum@sanfordmuseum.org to learn more about the scope of our collections and discuss a research plan.

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